The Latin Jazz Quintet had difficulty maintaining a consistent lineup during its brief existence. Between its initial 1960 session with the great Eric Dolphy (Caribe!, Prestige/New Jazz 8251) and the follow-up a year later, the band's personnel had completely changed. This album assembles two sessions cut between the Dolphy encounters, when conguero Juan Amalbert was still leading the LJQ and original bassist Bill Ellington (who wrote four of the tunes) also remained aboard. The band was a convincing hybrid, with strong soloists and a book featuring jazz classics by Gene Ammons, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk as well as infectious rhythm work and inspiring originals. Bobby Capers's alto lends an even stronger jazz tinge to the second session.